Co-dydramol

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Co-dydramol
Dihydrocodeine and paracetamol.svg
Combination of
DihydrocodeineOpioid analgesic
ParacetamolNon-opioid analgesic
Clinical data
Routes of
administration		Oral
Legal status
Legal status
  • UK: POM and P
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability~20% (Oral)
Identifiers
CAS Number
  

Co-dydramol (BAN) is a non-proprietary name used to denote a particular compound analgesic, a combination of dihydrocodeine tartrate and paracetamol. Co-dydramol tablets are used for the relief of moderate pain. Co-dydramol is part of a series of combination drugs available in the UK and other countries including co-codaprin (aspirin and codeine).

Formulations[]

All formulations of co-dydramol contain 500 mg of paracetamol per tablet and may only be sold at a pharmacy as an over-the-counter item without prescription (a P medicine) if containing less than 7.5 mg of dihydrocodeine per tablet. Higher strengths are prescription only medicines. There are no GSL formulations of co-dydramol, as it is a Schedule 5 controlled drug. Four strengths of dihydrocodeine tartrate in each tablet are available:

  • 7.46 mg dihydrocodeine as co-dydramol 7.46/500 (e.g. in the branded product Paramol).
  • 10 mg dihydrocodeine as co-dydramol 10/500, this is also the preparation to be dispensed if no strength is specified on a prescription.
  • 20 mg dihydrocodeine as co-dydramol 20/500 (e.g. branded products Paracod 500/20 and Remedeine).
  • 30 mg dihydrocodeine as co-dydramol 30/500 (e.g. branded products Paracod 500/30 and Remedeine Forte).

Metabolism[]

Dihydrocodeine is metabolised by the CYP450 system isoenzyme 2D6 to dihydromorphine, which mediates the majority of its analgesic effects. Owing to the low oral bioavailibility of dihydrocodeine (20%), and its subsequent metabolism to active compounds, it is likely that doses below 30mg are sub therapeutic for analgesia.

References[]

  • British National Formulary 2004
  • Merck Index 13th Edition
  • Oxford textbook of clinical pharmacology Second Edition (09. October 1992)
  • Martindale: The complete drug reference 35th Edition (2007)
  • Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11th Edition
  • Information on the packaging leaflet in Co-dydramol from Hammed

See also[]

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